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Best Home Warranty Companies in Montana (2024)

Author Image Written by Dana Getz + 1 other Reviewed by Michael Mansueto Updated 12/11/2024

A Montana home warranty protects major systems and appliances when they break down from normal wear and tear. Instead of paying for repairs out of pocket and finding a local contractor yourself, a home warranty provider will handle that for you in exchange for a monthly premium and a modest service call fee. After researching Montana home warranties, we recommend American Home Shield as our top choice for its generous coverage caps and coverage of preexisting conditions.

We reviewed the best home warranty companies in Montana using local homeowner needs, industry insights, and our secret shopping experiences. Whether you live in Great Falls or Helena, keep reading to determine which home warranty provider is best for you and your home.

Montana’s Top 4 Home Warranty Companies

The highest-rated Montana home warranty companies include the following:


Comparing Home Warranty Companies in Montana

Liberty Home Guard
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American Home Shield
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Select Home Warranty
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Elite Home Warranty
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Overall Score

4.4 / 5 4.8 / 5 3.7 / 5 4.6 / 5

BBB Rating

NR B B- B+

Monthly Cost

$49–$59 $49–$109 $44–$47 $44–$59

Service Fees

$65–$125 $100–$125 $60–$75 $70

Customer Support Options

Email, Phone, Online Chat, Online Portal Phone, Online Portal Email, Phone, Online Portal Email, Phone, Online Portal

Response Time

Up to 48 hours Up to 48 hours 48-84 hours Up to 48 hours

Pros

  • Extensive add-on catalog
  • 60-day workmanship guarantee
  • Accessible customer support
  • High coverage caps
  • Preexisting coverage included
  • Bonus discounts on maintenance services
  • Low-cost plan options
  • High HVAC coverage
  • Free roof leak protection
  • Higher coverage for high-end appliances
  • 90-day workmanship guarantee
  • Service call fee rolled into annual premium

Cons

  • Reviews mention low claim payouts
  • Low coverage caps for electrical and plumbing
  • Higher costs for comprehensive coverage
  • Smallest add-on catalog
  • Low coverage caps for other items
  • No service call fee flexibility
  • Higher service fee for high-end appliance repairs
  • No workmanship guarantee on repairs by out-of-network technicians

Summary

We recommend Liberty Home Guard for homeowners who need coverage for multiple HVAC systems and extensive add-on customizations.

We recommend American Home Shield for homeowners who need comprehensive coverage for older homes.

We recommend Select Home Warranty for homeowners who need affordable HVAC-only coverage.

We recommend Elite Home Warranty for homeowners who want fully customizable plans and extensive add-on coverage options.

Promotions

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Rating Categories

Liberty Home Guard American Home Shield Select Home Warranty Elite Home Warranty

Coverage

2.9 / 5
4.8 / 5
2.1 / 5
3.4 / 5

Value

4.8 / 5
3.3 / 5
4.8 / 5
4.3 / 5

Trustworthiness

4.3 / 5
3.7 / 5
3.7 / 5
4.7 / 5

Plan Transparency

2.5 / 5
5 / 5
2.5 / 5
3 / 5

Customer Support

4.5 / 5
4 / 5
3 / 5
3.5 / 5

Flexibility

3.5 / 5
2.5 / 5
2.5 / 5
4.5 / 5

*We based the pricing information in this table and throughout the article on sample quotes we obtained for a 1,824-square-foot, single-family home in Missoula, Montana. Your pricing may vary depending on your home’s location, size, type, and plan selections.

Why Trust Us? Our review and rating process for the best home warranty companies
13
Companies Considered We carefully considered 13 companies to find the best home warranty providers available.
2000
Homeowners Surveyed We surveyed 2,000 home owners to see what they care about most for home protection.
5700
Reviews Analyzed We went through 5,700 customer reviews of home warranty companies to see what people had to say about each provider.
31
Coverages Compared We compared 31 policies to find the best home warranty offerings on the market.

Our Reviews of Montana Home Warranties

American Home Shield

Best for Comprehensive Coverage
4.8 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.

American Home Shield (AHS) offers comprehensive major systems and appliance coverage alongside service call fee flexibility. Additionally, AHS covers unique instances other providers typically don’t, such as rust, corrosion, or sediment damage.

Why We Chose American Home Shield

We consider AHS to be the best provider for comprehensive coverage due to its three coverage plans, multiple service call fees, and solid industry reputation. It covers several things other companies don’t, such as rust damage and improper installations.

We thoroughly read American Home Shield’s sample contract and found it applies a $2,000 limit per covered appliance in its ShieldGold plan. It doubles its coverage cap to $4,000 per covered item in the ShieldPlatinum plan.

AHS coverage plans provide extensive coverage; even its basic plan, ShieldSilver, covers your HVAC system. Its multiple service call fees allow you to customize your monthly premium to fit your budget.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers a flexible service call fee model that allows customers to adjust monthly fees for their budget Provides coverage for unknown preexisting conditions and items damaged by rust and corrosion Sets generous coverage caps (up to $5,000 on built-in systems and $4,000 on appliances with its ShieldPlatinum plan) Cons Charges higher monthly premiums than other providers Doesn’t offer an appliance-only coverage plan Offers less coverage flexibility than most providers with only a few add-on options

Plans and Pricing

American Home Shield offers three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. We looked through American Home Shield’s sample contract directory and called an AHS representative to ask about the company’s plans. The representative noted that AHS imposes a $5,000 coverage cap per covered system in its systems-only plan, ShieldSilver. ShieldGold adds coverage for appliances, which have a $2,000 coverage limit. ShieldPlatinum also combines system and appliance coverage and increases its appliance limit to $4,000; plus, it adds roof-leak coverage, up to $1,000 in code upgrades, an HVAC tune-up, and air filter discounts.

AHS allows you to pull a quote by calling a representative or using its online tool. When we used AHS’s quote tool, it allowed us to choose a service call fee of $100 or $125. AHS states that a higher service call fee will result in a lower monthly premium and vice versa. All AHS plans come with a 30-day workmanship guarantee on any completed repairs covered by the plan.

While pulling our quote, we discovered that AHS only offers monthly premium options. It doesn’t include an annual premium discount like other providers on this list.

Here are details on each of American Home Shield’s plans:

  • ShieldSilver: Covers home systems, such as heating, cooling, and electrical
  • ShieldGold: Covers major systems and appliances, such as air conditioning, roof leaks, and plumbing
  • ShieldPlatinum: Covers systems and appliances and adds additional benefits, such as $1,500 for roof-leak repairs
  • Optional add-ons: Electronics, pools/spas, guest units, septic pumps, and well pumps. Based on the quote we pulled, we found that AHS offers competitively priced add-ons. For example, septic pump coverage costs an extra $5 per month.

Details on AHS plan pricing can be found in the table below:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Service Fee

Coverage Cap

ShieldSilver

$59.99–$79.99

$100–$125

$5000

ShieldGold

$79.99–$99.99

$100–$125

Systems: $5,000
Appliances: $2,000

ShieldPlatinum

$99.99–$119.99

$100–$125

Systems: $5,000
Appliances: $4,000

What To Expect

Our team received quotes from American Home Shield over the phone and online. The AHS online tool requires your home address, ZIP code, and email address. We were able to switch between the different plan and service fee options, with pricing updating instantly. 

AHS does not let you use your own contractor for service repairs. You must select a service technician from its in-network options. One of our team members has an AHS plan and filed a claim for a leaking bathroom pipe. When he called in, an AHS representative located a local plumber in an hour and scheduled a next-day service appointment. All repairs were completed successfully, and he was only charged the service call fee. 

After reading AHS customer reviews, he discovered homeowners liked the company’s prompt claims processes. The customer service department received mixed reviews, with some homeowners disappointed that their claims reimbursement was lower than anticipated.

Liberty Home Guard

Best Customer Support
4.4 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.

Liberty Home Guard (LHG) offers three coverage plans, a 60-day workmanship guarantee, and more than 30 add-ons. LHG also provides accessible customer service via its live-chat feature on its website.

Why We Chose Liberty Home Guard

It has the best customer ratings of any home warranty provider on this list, holding an A rating* with the BBB and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. We recommend LHG for homeowners with specific coverage needs, as it offers an extensive list of add-ons ranging from pool coverage to water softeners.

Our team spoke with multiple customer representatives to learn how LHG handles customer inquiries. Based on our experiences, it holds up to its stellar ratings, with each representative picking up the phone in under one minute and answering all of our questions thoroughly.

Pros and Cons

Pros Extends a 60-day workmanship guarantee Offers 38 unique optional add-ons, including pest control and gutter cleaning Provides two additional months of coverage if you sign up for an annual plan Cons Doesn’t allow plan price or service call fee customization Covers high-end appliances only with add-on purchase Lacks transparency about service call fees during the quote process

Plans and Pricing

Liberty Home Guard offers three service plan options: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. We read through Liberty Home Guard’s sample contract to get an understanding of what is covered in their plans along with associated service fees. Unlike providers with flexible service call fees, LHG assigns a service call fee to your account based on your plan, add-on selections, and location. According to the representative we spoke with, service fees range from $65 to $125. All LHG’s covered items are subject to a $2,000 coverage cap, except for electrical and plumbing systems. LHG provides a lower $500 coverage limit for these systems. All covered repairs are subject to a 60-day workmanship guarantee, which is double the industry standard of 30 days.

Below are the monthly prices for LHG plans. Expect to pay between $600 and $720 annually. Per our research, LHG offers two additional months of coverage if you sign up for an annual plan. LHG allows you to pull a quote over the phone or online.

Here are details on LHG’s plans and optional add-on coverage:

  • Appliance Guard: Covers appliances, such as dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers
  • Systems Guard: Covers built-in systems, such as air conditioning, heating, ductwork, and water heater
  • Total Home Guard: Covers all the items in the Appliance Guard and Systems Guard plans
  • Optional add-ons: Up to 38 options, including pest control, re-key service, gutter cleaning, floor cleaning, and generator coverage. When we pulled our quote, a representative informed us that pest control coverage costs an extra $15 monthly.

Details on LHG plan pricing can be found in the table below:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Service Fee

Coverage Cap

Appliance Guard

$49.99

$65–$125

$2,000

Systems Guard

$54.99

$65–$125

$2,000 (Plumbing & electrical: $500)

Total Home Guard

$59.99

$65–$125

Coverage caps remain the same

What To Expect

Homeowners can pull quotes for Liberty Home Guard through its customer support line or with its online tool. The LHG tool requires your name, phone number, and email address to begin the process. Next, you’ll enter your home address, home type, and whether it’s smaller than 5,000 square feet. You can then switch between monthly and annual premiums to find the best fit for your budget. 

LHG will send one of its in-network service technicians to repair your appliances. If there are no technicians in your area, the company will let you select your own. 

After reading online reviews, we learned that homeowners appreciated the company’s professionalism and quick claims process. However, some customers stated their claims payouts were less than expected.


Elite Home Warranty

Best for Customized Coverage
4.6 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.

We recommend Elite Home Warranty for homeowners who want flexible premiums and coverage. The company offers three base plans with a standard $70 service call fee (a lower service call fee than many providers) and 27 add-on options.

Monthly cost: $44–$58

Pros and Cons

Pros Includes a 90-day workmanship guarantee for completed repairs Offers higher coverage limits for high-end appliances Rolls your service call fee into your annual premium, avoiding a per-claim charge Cons Charges a higher service call fee for high-end appliance repairs Excludes workmanship guarantee on repairs done with an out-of-network technician Requires you to call for a quote

Plans and Cost

When reading through the Elite Home Warranty sample contract, we learned that the company offers a $15,000 annual limit for all plans. This breaks down to a $7,000 claim limit for appliances and $8,000 for systems, which is a higher limit than many providers. However, claim limits vary among coverage items. For example, air conditioners receive up to $4,000 while electrical systems are capped at $2,000.

We recommend reading through the sample contract or getting a quote for full details on coverage caps. 

Below are the details of Elite’s coverage plans:

  • Elite Appliances: The appliance-only plan covers eight essential appliances, including cooktops, clothes washers, and dishwashers. Coverage caps vary by appliance but are subject to a $7,000 term limit. 
  • Elite Systems: This system-only plan covers eight home systems, such as air conditioning, heating, and electrical systems. This plan has an $8,000 annual limit, though coverage caps vary by system.  
  • Elite Complete: The highest plan tier combines the Elite Appliances and Elite Systems plans for comprehensive systems and appliance protection. 

Based on our sample quotes, Elite Home Warranty charges a monthly premium of about $44–$58. The company has a standard service call fee of $70. It charges $150 for high-end appliance repairs and service calls that occur after hours or on the weekend.

More details on Elite’s plans and pricing can be found in the table below:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Service Fee

Coverage Cap

Elite Appliances

$44.49

$70

Varies per Item

Elite Systems

$49.99

$70

Varies per Item

Elite Complete

$58.99

$70

Varies per Item

Elite offers 27 add-on options, one of the largest catalogs we’ve seen from a home warranty company. Based on our research, most providers offer eight to 15 add-ons. Elite’s add-on coverage limits vary by item. There is a $5,000 total limit per term. 

We’ve highlighted some of Elite’s most attractive add-on options below. View the full list on Elite’s website:

  • Annual maintenance
  • Drainage, sewer, and water service lines
  • Pool and spa equipment
  • Geothermal heating and cooling systems
  • Guest house
  • Septic system

Our Experience with Elite Home Warranty

One of our team members tested the Elite Home Warranty claim process to repair his broken high-end dishwasher. Here’s a summary of his experience:

  • He submitted his claim online and received an Elite claims specialist call within 30 minutes. 
  • He received a next-day appointment for his repair. 
  • The technician arrived on the assigned day but realized the repair would require out-of-stock parts. 
  • After an initial service visit on Tuesday evening, the technician returned with the required parts the following Monday morning.
  • The technician completed the repairs within an hour.

Elite sends in-network technicians to complete its repairs. It backs its coverage with a 90-day workmanship guarantee. If you choose your own repair technician, Elite will pay them for labor at an hourly rate not to exceed the standard hourly rate in your area. You won’t receive any workmanship coverage from Elite if you choose your own technician. However, the local technician should provide their own workmanship guarantee, likely around 30 days.

Select Home Warranty

Best Budget Plan
3.7 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.
  • Provider Review: Select Home Warranty review
  • State Availability: 47 (excluding Nevada, Wisconsin, and Washington)
  • Monthly Cost: $44–$47

Select Home Warranty provides affordable coverage plans for those who need basic coverage. It offers appliance-only, systems-only, and combination plans. In addition, Select offers a service call fee under $80 per claim.

Why We Chose Select Home Warranty

It’s an affordable home warranty with all plans costing less than $50 per month. Select stands out by offering roof-leak repair coverage in each protection plan. Home warranty companies don’t typically offer roof-leak coverage without an additional fee.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers annual premium discounts on multiyear coverage plans Includes a generous $3,000 coverage limit for HVAC systems Covers additional refrigeration and stand-alone freezers Cons Excludes coverage for tankless water heaters Offers lower coverage caps than many competitors Charges multiple service fees if there are multiple claims at the same time

Plans and Pricing

Select Home Warranty offers three plan options: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. Select charges a $60–$75 service call fee per claim. Our team discovered via secret-shopping that Select offers its lower service call fee as an over-the-phone deal only. 

After reviewing Select Home Warranty’s sample contract, we found it provides a $3,000 cap for HVAC systems. However, Select limits other covered systems, such as plumbing and electrical, plus appliances, to a $500 coverage cap. This is low and could leave the homeowner absorbing costs that they thought would be covered. Select’s plans include a 30-day workmanship guarantee.

Select Home Warranty offers monthly and annual premium options. Expect to pay between $533 and $573 annually. According to the quote we pulled, Select offers up to $150 off and two additional months of coverage if you choose an annual premium. It lets you pull a quote by calling or using its online tool.

Here are more details about Select Home Warranty’s plans:

  • Bronze Care: Covers appliances, such as clothes washers and dryers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, and cooktops
  • Gold Care: Covers systems, such as air conditioning, heating, plumbing, electrical systems, water heaters, and ductwork
  • Platinum Care: Covers all the appliances and built-in systems in the Bronze and Gold Care plans, plus garage door openers and ceiling fans
  • Optional add-ons: Central vacuums, lawn sprinkler systems, pools, septic systems, spas, stand-alone freezers, sump pumps, and well pumps. Select Home Warranty also offers low prices for its add-ons. For example, it charges less than $4 monthly for central vacuum coverage.

See a breakdown of Select Home Warranty plan pricing below:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Service Fee

Coverage Cap

Bronze Care

$44.42

$60–$75

$500

Gold Care

$44.42

$60–$75

$500 (HVAC: $3,000)

Platinum Care

$47.75

$60–$75

Coverage caps remain the same

What To Expect

During our secret shopping process, we created sample quotes over the phone and through Select’s online quote tool. Surprisingly, you don’t need your home address for the tool. You only enter your name, phone number, email address, and ZIP code. We did learn that Select prefers resolving plan issues and processing claims over the phone. 

In most cases, Select will choose a service technician from its network of contractors. If there are no technicians in your area, the company will let you choose your own. However, Select must approve the choice before the repair process begins. 

Based on online reviews, homeowners appreciated Select’s affordable plan options and simple sign-up process. However, many reviews mentioned issues reaching customer support to file their claims.

What Is The Difference Between Home Warranty and Homeowners Insurance?

Homeowners insurance is required and protects your home and its items from damage during accidents, such as fires, floods, and thefts. A home warranty is optional and protects systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. To explore more about these service contracts, check out our article on the fundamentals of what home warranties cover.


Who Can Buy a Montana Home Warranty?

Real estate agents, home sellers, first-time home buyers, and seasoned homeowners can purchase a home warranty plan. For home buyers and homeowners, a home warranty can save you time and money when a home system or appliance breaks down. Home sellers and real estate agents can benefit from one by including a plan in the closing process and enticing potential buyers to close.


What Is The Best Home Warranty In Montana?

We recommend American Home Shield for Montana homeowners because of its comprehensive coverage options and trustworthy industry reputation.


The Best Home Warranty Companies in Montana – Our Take

  • American Home Shield, Liberty Home Guard, and Elite Home Warranty are some of the best home warranty companies for Montana residents.

American Home Shield is an excellent choice for homeowners who want the reliability of a company that’s been around for decades. Liberty Home Guard is another great option due to its responsive customer support, straightforward plans, and extensive add-on options. Before buying a home warranty, we recommend getting quotes from all three providers to compare pricing and coverage for your home.


Other Resources for Montana Residents


Our Rating Methodology

We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each provider. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts from each company, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. We then score each provider against our review standards for coverage, cost, trustworthiness, plan transparency, customer support, and flexibility to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale. 

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.